Samsung KU7000 vs KU6300 Review

Samsung KU6300 series and Samsung KU7000 series are part of Series 6 and Series 7 of Samsung’s 2016 flat Panel 4K UHD TV lineup. In the market, Samsung KU6300 and KU7000 are available on the number of screen sizes where the sizes which available on both are 40 Inch (UN40KU6300 vs UN40KU7000), 43 Inch (UN43KU6300 vs UN43KU7000), 49 Inch (UN50KU6300 vs UN49KU7000), 55 Inch (UN55KU6300 vs UN55KU7000), and 65 Inch (UN65KU6300 vs UN65KU7000). Meanwhile, KU6300 series is also available on 60 Inch and 70 Inch. But because KU7000 didn’t come with these screen sizes, of course this comparison is not applicable for these screen sizes.

Although KU6300 is a lower series but the price for each screen sizes is virtually similar, even on certain size it is sold more expensive than KU7000 series. So, what are their differences and which is a better choice between them? Let’s start discuss side by side the comparison between them.

Short Review of Samsung KU6300

As mentioned, Samsung KU6300 is part of Samsung’s 2016 UHD TV series 6 that comes with flat panel. Overall, quality of the picture that produced by KU6300 is good especially in a dark room due deep black level and contrast reached by it. Behind it, there is combination of UHD Dimming technology, Direct LED Backlight, and the number Samsung’s advanced technology. But even so, although it also already supports HDR 10 format, but HDR performance is average due its peak brightness is not too bright and it doesn’t support wide color gamut. This is far from what offered by Samsung SUHD TV lineups which come with Ultra HD Premium Certification. But as a TV with affordable price, what offered by KU6300 series is great and even some features that offered is better than average.

In addition deep black level and strong native contrast ratio, the other strong point offered by KU6300 is about its input lag where its input lag is below average. It is very great for video games even for games that require fast reflexes like race games. UHD Up-scaling performance of KU6300 is great where it is very useful for up-scaling lower resolution to near 4K quality. And that is less interesting is about its Smart TV platform where with Tizen OS, it offers smart experience that is not far from what offered by Samsung SUHD TV KS Series lineup that sold much more expensive. But in addition to the number advantages, KU6300 also lacks of some features. There is no 3D technology behind it and its viewing angle is poor. Additionally, the other downside but not a major, judder is still present when they used for watching all source for 24 p movies.

Short Review of Samsung KU7000

One level above KU6300, Samsung KU7000 offers slight better picture quality. Comes with edge lit without local dimming technology, back level and native strong contrast ratio reached by KU7000 series is not as deep and strong as what offered by KU6300, nevertheless, for LED TV it is still great. Dark scenes of the images produced by it look very good especially in a dark room. With active crystal color technology behind it, KU7000 supports wide color gamut that makes color of the picture displayed on its screen looks accurately and richly. Additionally, like KU6300 series, Samsung KU7000 also supports HDR 10 format. While most of display specs delivered by KU7000 meet the minimum standardization of HDR 10, but unfortunately, its peak brightness is not quite bright for displaying HDR 10 contents fully, even lower than reached by KU6300. But even so, when displaying most of SDR contents, performance of KU7000 is above average due its rich color gamut and deep black level.

Like KU6300, the strong point of Samsung KU7000 is about its low input lag that allows you to play games with fast reflexes without laggy. Additionally, KU7000 series also equipped with great performance UHD Up-scaling engine that allows you to enjoy all resolution video contents in 4K quality sharply and details. And like KU6300 series, smart TV is also the other interesting thing that offered. Meanwhile, not much different to Series 6, it is also not equipped with 3D technology. The other downside is about its poor viewing angle due the use of VA panel technology behind it. Additionally, KU7000 is also not a good TV for watching 24p movies considering judder cannot be removed completely at any 24p sources.

The difference between Samsung KU7000 and KU6300

As we see on comparison table above, there are two major differences between Samsung KU7000 and KU63000, the first about the type of backlighting and the second is about color technology. Samsung KU6300 comes with direct backlight while KU7000 comes with Edge Lit backlight. Meanwhile about color technology, KU7000 series is powered by Active Crystal Color while KU6300 is powered by PurColor Technology. The impact certainly is about black level, peak brightness, contrast, and color reproduction which delivered by it. But because all of them are the most important aspects of picture quality, this certainly also has a big impact on the picture quality that produced by the.

Picture Quality

Overall, quality of the picture that displayed on the screen of Samsung KU7000 and KU6300 is good especially when displaying dark scenes in a dark room. This is due the strong contrast and deep black level reached by them and this cannot be saparated from great performance of UHD Dimming technology behind them. But even so, compare between them, KU6300 offers deeper black level and stronger contrast ratio than KU6300. This is mainly due their difference in backlighting technology while we all know, they are powered by virtually identical technologies. The result, Samsung KU6300with direct LED Backlighting can reach about 0.018 nits of back level with native contrast ratio about 5400:1 while KU7000 with Edge-Lit Backlighting reach about 0.022 nits of black level with native contrast ratio about 4500:1. In other hand, KU6300 also offers slight better black uniformity than KU7000. But even so, ignore about the different contrast that reached by each, what offered by them is really great for LED TV and quite enough for displaying SDR contents amazingly. Meanwhile, both of them already support HDR 10 format where it requires at least 0.05 nits or lower of black level. This means both of them can display HDR 10 contents without any issues on black level and contrast. And when displaying most of video contents in a dark room, both of them are including the best in class.

The difference in backlighting technology also makes the difference in peak brightness that reached by it. As we know, peak brightness is also including one the most important aspects of HDR. For this case, Samsung KU6300 with direct LED Backlighting can reach about 425 nits of peak brightness and it is consistent at all % of windows. Meanwhile, Samsung KU7000 with edge lit backlighting reach 400 nits of peak brightness and this will dims on smaller % windows, even on 2 % windows, peak brightness reached is only about 135 nits. This means KU6300 offers brighter picture than KU7000 especially when inputted by HDR signals. Meanwhile when inputted by SDR contents, KU7000 shows more consistent peak brightness at all % windows. What reached by them is actually quite bright for displaying SDR contents that don’t need high dynamic range, but for displaying HDR 10 contents fully, it is still far from that required. As we know, for displaying HDR 10 contents fully, it needs at least 1000 nits of peak brightness. This is one of the reasons why both Samsung KU6300 and KU7000 are not compliant with Ultra HD Premium Certification set by UHD Alliance.

If Samsung KU6300 is slight superior to KU7000 on black level, contrast, and peak brightness, Samsung KU7000 is superior on color gamut that delivered. As we have mentioned, color technology is one of the major difference between them. And with Active Crystal Color behind it, KU7000 can deliver about 94% of DCI P3 color space while KU6300 with PurColor technology delivers about 83% of DCI P3 color space. What reached by KU6300 might quite good for displaying SDR contents that doesn’t require wide color gamut and just required Rec.709 color space. But for displaying HDR contents that required 90% of DCI P3 color space, of course this is less than adequate. Meanwhile, what delivered by Samsung KU7000 is quite enough for displaying HDR10 contents without any issues on color reproduction. Let alone for displaying SDR contents, of course it is more than enough. With wide color gamut reached, of course color of the picture that displayed on the screen of KU7000 will looks more accurate and richer than what displayed on the screen of KU6300. One more the aspect that required by HDR is about depth of color. You need to know, HDR 10 needs at least 10 bit depth of color and both of them are able to display 10 bit signals without any major issues. Of course gradient of the color that produced looks very smoothly without any color banding or gradation. As the comparison, 8 bit panel deliver about 16 millions shades of color while 10bit panel offers much more shades of color that is about 1.07 billion.

From all we have discussed a lot above their picture quality, we can see Samsung KU7000 better performance in color gamut while KU6300 is slight superior on black level, contrast, and peak brightness. With all display specs that offered, KU6300 offers slight better picture quality when inputted by SDR signals due its deeper black level and stronger contrast. But because their difference is not too significant, most people should not notice. Meanwhile when inputted by HDR signals, KU7000 is better due wide color gamut delivered by it.

Similarities

The expecting of picture quality, SamsungKU7000 and KU6300 offers virtually identical performance. This is due both of them are powered by similar technology. Supposing there is any difference, it’s not too significant.

Viewing Angle

Both of Samsung KU6300 and KU7000 have poor viewing angle. This is due the use of VA panel technology behind them. As we know, the major downside of VA panel technology is it cannot preserve quality of the picture consistently from side viewing angle. The result, started at 20 degrees off center and front, the quality of color and contrast will be decline and the wider viewing angle, the quality of the picture will decline more. As the consequence, you must set your seat in such away so center and in front of the screen if you want to watch TV with the best picture quality from them.

UHD Up-scaling

As we have mentioned, both of these Samsung KU7000 and KU6300 are equipped with great performance UHD Up-scaling engine. It is very useful especially when you find video sources with lower resolution than 4K. Moreover, most of the contents which available in the market still have lower resolution than 4K. And of course with great UHD Up-scaling engine behind them, this will not be a gig issue. When they are inputted by 480p signals like DVDs, the final images in 4K resolution that produced will looks good with small details preserved well. And of course, the higher resolution of video sources, the final images that produced will looks better and sharper with small details preserved more.

Motion Blur

Motion blur of Samsung KU6300 and KU7000 is not great but still can be said great. Their pixel response time is not as low as the competitor but still low. The result, when they are used for watching videos with fast moving scenes like sports, fast movies, or other fast moving images, motion blur cannot be eliminated completely. A faint trail behind the fast moving objects is still visible. Nevertheless, for most of the people, it should be not distracting. Meanwhile, when used for watching 24 movies, performance of Samsung KU7000 and KU6300 is average. Judder cannot be removed on all source of 24p, whether it is 24p via 60i signals likes movies from satellite TV, 24p via 60p signals like movies from streaming media, or even native 24p like Blu Ray movies. But fortunately, most of people don’t notice judder so it should not be a problem for them.

Inputs/Outputs

Both Samsung UNKU6300 and KU7000 are equipped with 4 HDMI Ports and 2 USB Ports as their major connectivity. This is slight fewer than what offered by Samsung SUHD TV KS series. Moreover, the standard connectivity like Composite In, Component In, Antenna In (RF In), Digital Audio Out (Optical), Ethernet, and other are also provided. That is great is about their input lag where their input lag of their HDMI ports is lower than the competitors even most of TVs that available in the market. Once game mode is activated, their input lag is very low at any source, no matter it is 1080p, 4K, or 4K + HDR inputs. Of course, both of them is very great for video games, even for video games that require low input lag like fast reflexes games or 4K HDR games. Although both of them equally offer lower input lag than average, compare between them, KU6300 as a lower series offers slight lower input lag than KU7000.

Sound Quality

As their audio equipment, Samsung KU6300 and KU7000 are equipped with 2.0 channel speaker system with 20 watts total sound power. There is no built-in woofer behind them. But even so, tough without built in woofer, their sound quality is average and not too bad for TVs. Frequency response is decent with maximum loudness is quite loud. But even so, like sound quality of most of TVs, at higher volume, pumping and compression are still present. For watching TV shows or news where there is no sound effect or music, what offered by them is more than enough. But for watching music shows or movies, the addition of external sound bar is highly recommended to get better sound experience.

Smart TV

Smart TV is the other interesting thing that offered by Samsung KU7000 and KU6300. With Tizen OS as their smart TV platform and powered by a fast quad core processor and a decent memory sizes, both of them very attractive and responsive smart TV platform. User interface is designed attractively and simply with a “ribbon” at the bottom across the screen contain most popular and favorites apps shortcut. Once an app is highlighted, a popup window contains suggested content will appears on it. Behind the simplicity of user interface design, it is comfortable to use. Additionally, once an app is launched, the loading time is very quick. Additionally, the selecting between apps when multitasking also feels responsively and lightly. Meanwhile, both of them also provide tons of useful and most popular apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, Web Browser, Screen Mirroring, Cloud Games and many more.

As the controller, Samsung KU6300 and KU7000 is equipped with similar remote called Samsung Smart Controller. It s designed comfortable to use with minimalist buttons even without “number buttons”. This remote is equipped with built in microphone for voice command functionality. But unfortunately, it is not equipped with pointer functionality like last year model “Samsung Smart Touch Remote”. The other interesting thing that offered is it can serve as universal remote where with tons of IR database, this remote can be used for controlling other devices connected on TVs. But of course, for a while, this is limited only for basic functions.

Conclusion

As we have discussed a lot above, both Samsung KU6300 series and KU7000 offer good picture quality when displaying dark scenes in a dark room due their deep black level and contrast. They are the best in class about contrast and black level. Additionally, UHD Up-scaling performance is also great that allows you to watch lower resolution contents in 4K quality without any loss of small details. And with low input lag once games mode is enabled, these TVs are very suitable for games fans. And of course, Smart TV is other strong point that offered by both. Nevertheless, movies experience offered by them is average considering its poor performance when handing 24p movies. In other hand, although both of them already support HDR 10 but they are not able to display HDR 10 fully due its brightness is not quite bright. But overall, both of them are including the best TVs in class.

So, which is a better choice between them? As we have discussed a lot above, Samsung KU6300 is superior on black level, contrast, and peak brightness while KU7000 is superior on color reproduction. Meanwhile, the other features are virtually identical. With slight deeper back level, stronger contrast, and brighter peak brightness, KU6300 offers slight better picture quality in a dark room when displaying SDR contents. Meanwhile, although its peak brightness is not quite bright, KU7000 offers better performance when inputted by HDR 10 signals considering wide color gamut delivered by it. Now, the decision still comes back to you according to your preferences. However, before you decide to choose one of them, there are a lot of user opinions from the people who have purchased one of them where you can make as your further consideration.

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